Learn to recognize the season of marriage you’re in, and enjoy it!

Every season of marriage comes with its own flavor and its own unique trials. We can often spend so much time dreaming of the next season that we do not take time to appreciate the one we are currently in.

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Newlywed Season

If we are young and in the newlywed season of life, we are often planning for the next season which could be better jobs, a first house, or starting a family. While it is great to plan for the next stage of marriage, there is so much you could miss in this season. Here are three things to enjoy in this season.

The peace and quiet. This might be the most peaceful season of marriage, but we crowd the peace out with all the plans.

Less debt. Oh, how I wish I could go back to the days of less things and a place to live that was as cheap as my first home. It is easy to get caught up in the “I wants” and start spending money to have all those things you can’t afford yet. Just take this time to save and invest instead of having the nicest things.

Once you are in your new location together and get involved in your community, the more friends will be over. It’s easy to let your privacy go out the door. Really enjoy the time you have to be alone with each other. It is a great time to just relax and get to know each other. You have many years ahead of you to accomplish your dreams. Enjoy a few years of just the two of you!

Mid-life Season

In my opinion, this is the busiest and maybe the hardest season of life. Some marriages are busy raising kids, and some are career-focused. We are busy building our lives just as we want them. We are young and thriving. We are also busy, busy, busy! During this season of life, time is the greatest commodity. Here are three things to enjoy this season of life.

Your youth. As we get to the mid-life season we realize we are not as young as we used to be. However, you are still young, so enjoy your youth. Play and do not take life so seriously. Have fun and laugh.

Do not collect extra debt.Live within your means. Do not buy into commercialism. Kids will be fine if they do not have the best and our homes are good enough without that addition.

Make tons of memories. These are the years to really enjoy each other. Make memories every chance you get and document everything. Do not be so busy that all you can remember is a 60-hour week when you look back on these mid-life years.

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Retirement Season

While I am not close to this season of life yet, my parents are in the midst of it. Here are three things I have seen them benefit greatly from during these years.

Now that your working years are up, spend some time volunteering. Not only will you teach valuable things to the younger generation, you will feel valuable.

You no longer need all the things you collected in those mid-life years. Downsize and travel. Explore the world and enjoy each other. Don’t worry about leaving your kids anything when you are gone. Use it all up! Your kids will be more blessed by watching you live and make memories than saving things for when you are gone.

Peace and quiet. Enjoy that the home is quiet once again just like when you were newlyweds. Take this time to invest in love and each other. You have worked hard to sit back and enjoy the rest!

Every season of life has its good and bad. Take these tips and maximize the good in each season so that you get the most out of your marriage. When each season comes and goes appreciate what you gained and take it into the next season and grow your marriage into something even greater than it was before.

About Joy Keys

I am a speaker, writer, and marriage mentor. My lifework is to use my own journey to help others. I seek opportunities to use truth, humor, and my own observations to shine a light into life experiences that feel dark and lonely. You can connect with me by email or on Facebook.